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On Monday, July 28, 2025, members of the Black Educators Network (BEN) visited Urban Sprouts Child Development Center in St. Louis, MO to tour their NAEYC-accredited Reggio Emilia-inspired early learning center.
Founded in 2009 by Ellicia Lanier, a dedicated educator and advocate, Urban Sprouts was born out of the belief that every child deserves a space where they are nurtured, seen, and celebrated. With a heart for justice and a mind for innovation, Ellicia set out to create more than just a childcare center—she created a space where children and families could grow together, where learning is meaningful, and where community is at the heart of everything.
As its name suggests, Urban Sprouts is an urban oasis for young children in the St. Louis area that uniquely integrates nature connection and learning into the center’s foundational philosophy and curriculum.
The moment I pulled into the parking lot and entered the front doors, I immediately experienced a paradigm shift in seeing, for the first time in my career, how a larger childcare center can exemplify high quality, nature-based early childhood education. My mindset also shifted from defining "nature-based" primarily as opportunities for outdoor play and learning, to including nutrition and community care as big parts of the approach.
-BEN Member
Through a curated panel discussion, BEN members heard from Urban Sprouts educators and leaders about community-building and environment-centered learning experiences for communities impacted by racism and poverty. Urban Sprouts’ programmatic model creatively and naturally centers equity in everything they do–from offering high-quality early childhood education, to family counseling and coordinating social services, to gardening and nutrition programs.
The tour shows what’s possible when advocacy, funding, and leadership are aligned and supported. It’s a reminder that this work is not one-dimensional and it cuts across education, health, equity, and justice. You see the ripple effects of multi- and cross-sector collaboration, and how it creates spaces where children thrive and educators are supported to lead.
-BEN Member
When asked if they would recommend the site tour visit to Urban Sprouts as a professional development opportunity for other Black educators, participating BEN members unanimously said yes!
The impact of being able to see yourself reflected in Ellicia and her team is immeasurably important for other Black educators to experience. By participating in professional development with the folks at Urban Sprouts, Black educators will gain tips, insights, resources, inspiration, strategies, connections, and so much more that they can take home to apply to their programs.
-BEN Member
What makes it powerful is that you don’t just hear about theory, but you see what it actually looks like in practice. It’s not something out of a book; it’s lived, on-the-ground experience. You witness children from neighborhoods that are often divested having access to joyful, affirming, and curiosity-driven learning experiences that too often are not offered in urban settings as well as children from other middle class settings.
-BEN Member
Seeing other people's programs only makes us dream bigger and improve our own practices. I think they can expect to gain new ideas and ways to approach their work in their own communities. Black educators visiting for professional development can expect to form relationships with other colleagues who are on similar journeys and move with similar intentions. And most of all they are in community with beautiful humans who care about the well-being and futures of Black children and families.
-BEN Member